MOONBASE CENTRAL

Saturday, 28 February 2026

A LOOK AT THE JR21 MULTI-DIRECTIONAL WATER PISTOL

One of my recent acquisitions is this JR21 Thunderbirds water pistol, sadly missing it's finger guard, but something I remember owning as a youngster.

The water pistol, along with it’s cap firing counterpart were a pretty good rendition of the pistol used by the Tracy brothers in the series.

TV 21 carried plenty of adverts for these inexpensive toy guns, along with their dearer Thunderbird toys, although the water pistol did get a half page all to itself.

The water pistol was apparently released first in 1965, followed in 1966 with a blue, and later a green version of the cap firing pistol.

Both look great, but I think from a nostalgic point of view, I prefer the water pistol.

Apollo-X by Tomy: Japan's Apollo Saturn

Hot on the heels of Ed's wonderful Project SWORD Apollo Saturn by Century 21 Toys.

Here's some pics from Japan of the likely origin, one of a number of Japanese toys and kits which very likely inspired Project SWORD toy designs.

This is

Tomy's Apollo-X in its Japanese box, presumably for the mid-1960's home market.

(Their next or other version was the Ranger-7 in an English language box)

I'm not convinced this original version had a parachute capsule, although clearly the red tip detached. It's not clear.

Certainly the parachute capsule appeared in the next Tomy iteration, the Ranger-7 Interplanetary Rocket with the English box.

Century 21 Toys repeated the feature on their Apollo Saturn.

Has anyone got a Tomy Apollo-X in its Japanese box?

Friday, 27 February 2026

Mystery SPV

I saw this SPV on a Japanese auction. It's an odd one, anyone any idea what make it is?

A LOOK AT THE RETRO SIXTEEN 12 UFO INTERCEPTOR

Here’s some photos of the Sixteen 12 ‘Retro UFO Interceptor’ which appeared in 2020, naturally, taking it’s inspiration from the 1971 Green Dinky version.

Certainly a controversial and divisive decision for some, who still hark back to why Dinky finally chose a metallic green over a possible prototype metallic blue, or the more accurate white colour.

When I bought my first Dinky UFO Interceptor back in 1971, the box art showed a white Interceptor, and inside a disappointingly green example.

While there’s no definitive answer to the “why green” question, it doesn’t stop a plethora of differing opinions explaining the reason why.

Some offer the fact that Dinky felt some white toys didn’t sell, to youngsters as well as those in more attractive bright colours.

There’s the perennial story that Dinky had an excess of green metallic paint left over from their Johnston Road Sweeper model, and decided to use it for the Interceptor, and later for the Space: 1999 Eagle Transporter.

One person even suggested that Mattel’s Hot Wheels 1968-69 range with their gaudy candy colouring and metallic paint colour schemes might be to blame, prompting Dinky to follow the suite.

All, in part could well be be true, and frankly your guess is as good as mine. Anyway, I think I’m over it now, and very glad to own both a Dinky and Sixteen 12 green UFO Interceptor.

Mystery Ship: Solved!

Here's a mystery toy ship.

It looks well designed but I've no idea what it is.

You?

An anonymous reader solved this one. It's the Kidco Super Star Cruiser.

Quelle International also released this toy in Europe, called simply Raumschiff or Spaceship.

There's also a Japanese Yonezawa version, which may well be the original and have it's roots in Anime? I don't know.

Here is a lovely webpage all about the Yonezawa version.

http://noboland.web.fc2.com/x-9.htm

Spanish toy Arsenal

Like Jefe's harpoon last month here's a similar hilted tinplate toy pistol, the Aviador with a big missile.

This is an odd bit of card art showing a 60's style Soulet boy brandishing an FBI snub-nosed. I guess it's meant to be hippiedom, the Agente Federal.

Finally this Agente Zero's big scope recalls the huge unit on the Man from Uncle toy rifle. Rather than an Agents toy rifle, the stick depicts a gazelle!